Turkish Stream project begins – ambassador

Moscow and Ankara have started the technical work on ‘Turkish Stream’ the new pipeline to deliver Russian natural gas to Turkey and southern European customers.

The design of a natural gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey is
underway, Turkey’s ambassador to Russia Umit Yardim said on
Tuesday. "The technological realization of the 'Turkish
Stream' project has begun,” the envoy told members of the
Russian State Duma in Moscow.

"There are questions that need to be worked out, in
particular, how exactly the pipeline will be laid. Both the
Russian and the Turkish sides started implementing the technical
part of the project, the cooperation will continue. Obtaining
permission is an insignificant element of this work until the
final decisions are made,” Yardim told a news conference,
according to RIA Novosti.

The new pipeline under the Black Sea will to replace the South
Stream project. Last year, Russia scrapped South Stream because
of objections from the EU over its construction. It was to supply
gas to southern Europe via Bulgaria, avoiding Ukraine. Instead,
Russia said it redirect the new pipeline, with an annual capacity
of 63 billion cubic meters of gas, to Turkey.

It will run 660 kilometers along the old corridor of the South
Stream project, and 250 kilometers in a new corridor towards the
European part of Turkey, ending with a terminal close to the
border with Greece.

Last week, Russian gas major Gazprom’s CEO Aleksey Miller said
the first shipment of natural gas via the new pipeline is planned
for December 2016.